Cup structure

ABSTRACT

A cup structure comprises an inner cup and an outer cup. A groove is formed on an outer surface of the inner cup and concaved from the outer surface to an inner surface. The inner cup is completely or partly wrapped by the outer cup. The groove of the inner cup and a portion of the outer cup form a fluid channel. Suction holes are formed at two ends of the fluid channel. Thereby, the user can suck the material inside the cup structure. Further, the cup structure can be disassembled conveniently for cleaning.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cup structure, particularly to a cup structure having a fluid channel.

2. Description of the Prior Art

While a hand-shaken iced drink (such as a cup of pearl milk tea) is sold in conventional beverage shops, the drink is sealed by a sealing machine. When intending to drink it with a straw, the user uses the straw to penetrate the sealing film and then sucks the drink with the straw. Then, the straw is thrown into a recycling tank after drinking. However, too many straws are abandoned in the environments and oceans and the abandoned straws are hard to be reused because of recycling difficulties. Thus, the marine pollution, plastic waste and other problems are caused. Therefore, the government begins to limit the use of disposable straws.

Accordingly, the manufacturers are eager to develop a cup structure, which is environment-friendly and easy to carry, use and clean, and which is also user-friendly, i.e. allows users not to change the original usage habit as much as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a cup structure, wherein a fluid channel is formed inside the cup structure, and wherein the fluid channel has suction holes at two ends, whereby the user may conveniently suck the material inside the cup structure, and whereby the cup structure may be easily disassembled for cleaning.

In one embodiment, the present invention proposes a cup structure, which comprises an inner cup and an outer cup. The inner cup has an inner surface, an outer surface and a first opening. A first groove is formed on the outer surface, concaved from the outer surface to the inner surface. The outer cup receives the whole inner cup or a portion of the inner cup. The first groove and the outer cup jointly form a fluid channel. The first groove extends from the first opening to a cup bottom of the inner cup. A first suction hole is formed at the first opening; a second suction hole is formed on the inner surface and at the cup bottom of the inner cup. The first suction hole, the first groove, a portion of the outer cup and the second suction hole cooperate to form the fluid channel.

Below, embodiments are described in detail with the attached drawings to make easily understood the objectives, technical contents, characteristics, and accomplishments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a cup structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of an inner cup according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a cup structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 schematically shows an assembled cup structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a cup structure according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C schematically show a cup structure according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B schematically show cup structures according to further another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 9C, FIG. 9D, FIG. 9E, and FIG. 9F schematically show the structures of inner cup bodies according to further another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 schematically shows a cup structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A schematically shows a sectional view of a cup structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11B schematically shows a top view of a cup structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 schematically shows a sectional view of the structure of a cup seat body according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 schematically shows the structure of an assembled cup structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 schematically shows a cup structure according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 schematically shows a cup structure according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 schematically shows the structure of a cup seat according to further another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a cup structure, which comprises an inner cup and an outer cup. The inner cup has a groove formed on an outer surface thereof and concaved from the outer surface to an inner surface thereof. The outer cup receives the inner cup completely or partly. The groove of the inner cup and a portion of the outer cup structure form a fluid channel. FIG. 1 to FIG. 9F show the embodiments where the inner cup is completely wrapped by the outer cup. FIG. 10 to FIG. 16 show the embodiments where the inner cup is partly wrapped by the outer cup. The present invention will be described in detail with embodiments and attached drawings below. However, these embodiments are only to exemplify the present invention but not to limit the scope of the present invention. In addition to the embodiments described in the specification, the present invention also applies to other embodiments. Further, any modification, variation, or substitution, which can be easily made by the persons skilled in the art according to the embodiment of the present invention, is to be also included within the scope of the present invention, which is based on the claims stated below. Although many special details are provided herein to make the readers more fully understand the present invention, the present invention can still be practiced under a condition that these special details are partially or completely omitted. Besides, the elements or steps, which are well known by the persons skilled in the art, are not described herein lest the present invention be limited unnecessarily. Similar or identical elements are denoted with similar or identical symbols in the drawings. It should be noted: the drawings are only to depict the present invention schematically but not to show the real dimensions or quantities of the present invention. Besides, matterless details are not necessarily depicted in the drawings to achieve conciseness of the drawings.

Refer to FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a cup structure 100, which comprises an inner cup 110, an outer cup 120, and a cover body 140. The inner cup 110 is placed inside the outer cup 120. The cover body 140 is placed in the openings of the inner cup 110 and the outer cup 120. The detailed structure of the cup structure 100 of the present invention will be described in details below.

Refer to FIG. 2 also. The inner cup 110 has an inner surface 112, an outer surface 114, and a first opening 111. A groove 116 is formed on the outer surface 114 of the inner cup structure 110, concaved from the outer surface 114 to the inner surface 112. In this embodiment, the groove 116 extends from the first opening 111 to a cup bottom 118 of the inner cup 110.

Refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The outer cup 120 has a receiving space 122 and a second opening 121. The receiving space 122 receives the inner cup 110. The groove 116 of the inner cup 110 and the inner side of the receiving space 122 jointly form a fluid channel 130. In one embodiment, a first suction hole 115 is formed at the first opening 111; a second suction hole 117 is formed at the cup bottom 118. The first suction hole 115, the second suction hole 117, the groove 116 and the receiving space 122 cooperate to form the fluid channel 130. An intake 142 is formed on the cover body 140 and disposed corresponding to the first suction hole 115. The assembled cup structure 100 is shown in FIG. 4. In one embodiment, the hardness of the inner cup 110 is higher than the hardness of the outer cup 120. The inner cup 110 may be made of a material selected from a group including plastics, silicones, rubbers, resins, metals, ceramics, paper, wood, plant fibers, natural minerals, and composite materials. However, the materials of the inner cup 110 are not limited to be those mentioned above. The outer cup 120 may be made of an elastic material selected from a group including plastics, silicones, rubbers, resins, glass, metals, ceramics, paper, wood, plant fibers, natural minerals, and composite materials. However, the materials of the outer cup 120 are not limited to be those mentioned above. The cover body 140 may be made of a material selected from a group including plastics, silicones, rubbers, resins, glass, metals, ceramics, paper, wood, plant fibers, natural minerals, and composite materials. However, the materials of the cover body 140 are not limited to be those mentioned above. In one embodiment, the cover body 140 is made of a film material. In another embodiment, a film is disposed inside the cover body, and a cutting line for the intake is formed on the film and corresponding to the first suction hole 115. The inner cup and the outer cup body may be made of an identical material or different materials. In order to convenience the users to suck, the hardness of the inner cup had better be higher than the hardness of the outer cup. The outer cup 120 may be made of an elastic material. In one embodiment, the outer cup 120 is a film enveloping the inner cup.

Refer to FIG. 5. In one embodiment, the inner cup 110 further comprises a first inner cup body 110A and a second inner cup body 110B, which are joined to form the inner cup 110. In this embodiment, the inner cup 110 is not a one-piece structure that is produced integrally but is an assembled structure that is formed via joining two components and can be disassembled into two pieces, whereby the inner cup 110 may be cleaned more easily, and whereby the components can be stacked more conveniently, as shown in FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C. Refer to FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. In one embodiment, the first inner cup body 110A includes a first joint element A1; the second inner cup body 110B includes a second joint element A2. The first joint element A1 and the second joint element A2 are press-fitted to each other (as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B) or joined to each other (as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B). It is easily understood: the present invention does not constrain that the shapes of the joint elements must be the shapes shown in FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 8A or FIG. 8B.

The diameter of the fluid channel 130 may be designed according to the requirement of the customer. In other words, the diameter of the fluid channel 130 may be varied according to drinks and users. For example, the fluid channel 130 adopts an ordinary diameter for ordinary users, an ordinary or smaller diameter for children, a larger diameter for a thick drink or a drink with another food, such as red beans, green beans, coconut jelly, tapioca pearls, taro rice balls, sarcocarp, vegetarian gelatin, sweet potato noodles, etc. The present invention does not constrain that the fluid channel 130 must have the shapes shown in FIGS. 1-4. In the present invention, the fluid channel 130 may have the shapes shown in FIGS. 9A-9F or other shapes.

Refer to FIG. 10. In one embodiment, the present invention proposes a cup structure 200, which comprises a main cup body 210 (inner cup) and a cup seat body 220 (outer cup). The main cup body 210 is placed in the cup seat body 220; and the cup seat body 220 covers a portion of the main cup body 210. The detailed structure of the cup structure 200 of the present invention will be described in details below.

Refer to FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B. FIG. 11A schematically shows the section of the main cup body. FIG. 11B is a top view of the main cup body. As shown in FIG. 11A, the main cup body 210 includes a cup bottom 211 and a cup wall 212 connected with the cup bottom 211. The cup wall 212 is rolled up to form a first opening 213. A first groove 216 is formed on an outer surface 215 of the cup wall 212, concaved from the outer surface 215 to an inner surface 214 of the cup wall 212. In this embodiment, the first groove 216 is extended from the first opening 213 to the cup bottom 211 of the main cup body 210. A first suction hole 217 is formed at the first opening 213; and a second suction hole 218 is formed on the inner surface 214 and at the cup bottom 211 of the main cup 210. In one embodiment, the first suction hole 217 is formed via rolling up a portion of the cup wall 212. It is easily understood that the shape of the first suction hole 217 includes but is not limited to be the shape shown in FIG. 11B.

Refer to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. FIG. 12 schematically shows a section of the cup seat body. FIG. 13 schematically shows a section of the assemblage of the main cup body and the cup seat body. As shown in FIG. 12, the cup seat body 220 includes a cup seat 221 and a seat wall 222 connected with the cup seat 221. The cup seat 221 forms a receiving space 223; the cup seat body 220 covers the first groove 216 and receives a portion of the main cup body 210. As shown in FIG. 13, the receiving space 223 at least covers the cup bottom 211 of the main cup body 210 and a portion of the first groove 216 of the main cup body 210. The first suction hole 217, the first groove 216, a portion of the cup seat 220 and the second suction hole 218 cooperate to form a fluid channel 230. Refer to FIG. 12 also. In one embodiment, the thickness of the cup bottom 211 of the main cup body 210 is smaller than the thickness of the cup wall 212 of the main cup body 210, wherein the cup wall 212 does not include the region of the first groove 216. Thus, the cup seat 221 of the cup seat body 220 may be close-fitting to the cup bottom 211 of the main cup body 210. Refer to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 schematically shows the interior of the cup seat body 220. In another embodiment, an inner wall surface 224 of the cup seat body 220 has a protrudent second groove 226, which is disposed corresponding to the first groove 213 (also refer to FIG. 13). Such a design not only makes the main cup body 210 more close-fitting to the cup seat body 220 but also makes the material inside the cup structure 200 flow more smooth through the fluid channel (also refer to FIG. 13).

Refer to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 schematically shows the assembled cup structure. In yet another embodiment, the seat wall 222 only covers a portion of the cup wall 212, whereby the user can conveniently separate the main cup body 210 from the cup seat body 220. Further, the cup structure 200 further comprises a cover body 240 covering the first opening 213 (also refer to FIG. 13). The present invention does not particularly limit the shape of the cover body 240. In one embodiment, the cover body 240 has an intake 241 disposed corresponding to the first suction hole 217 (also refer to FIG. 13). Moreover, the cover body 240 has a ventilation hole 242 to favor air convection and enable the user to suck the drink easily.

Refer to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 schematically shows a cup structure of the present invention. In still another embodiment, the cup structure 200 further comprises a protrudent handle member 227, which protrudes from an outer wall surface 225 of the cup seat body 220 to increase the convenience of holding. Further, the protrudent handle member 227 may be designed to have a decorative pattern for increasing the holding area, promoting the esthetics of the appearance, and improving the recognizability of the product.

In one embodiment, the hardness of the material of the main cup body 210 is higher than the hardness of the material of the cup seat body 220. The cup seat body 220 may be made of an elastic material, which may be but is not limited to be a material selected from a group including plastics, silicones, rubbers, resins, glass, metals, ceramics, paper, wood, plant fibers, natural minerals, and composite materials. The present invention does not particularly limit the material of the main cup body 210. In principle, the material of the main cup body should be harder than the material of the cup seat body so that the user can suck conveniently. The elastic material of the cup seat body 210 not only can increase the frictional force between the cup seat body and the main cup body but also can provide slip-proof and heat-insulating functions. Further, the elastic material enables users to separate the cup seat body 220 from the main cup body 210 easily and thus makes users clean the main cup body and the cup seat body conveniently.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cup structure, wherein two ends of the fluid channel function as the suction pipe, whereby the user can suck the material contained in the cup structure conveniently and easily. The cup structure of the present invention may be fabricated to be a non-disposable environment-friendly cup or a disposable cup that is usually used by beverage shops. If the cup structure of the present invention is fabricated to be a non-disposable cup, it can be washed conveniently. As long as the inner cup is drawn out, the inner cup, the groove and the outer cup can be washed easily. It is obvious that washing the cup structure of the present invention is easier than washing an ordinary environment-friendly straw. Further, the inner cup structure of the present invention can be split into two pieces, whereby they can be stacked conveniently. Furthermore, the protrudent handle member on the cup structure of the present invention not only can be designed to a cup lug but also can be designed to have different patterns, whereby to increase the holding area as well as to enhance the esthetics of the cup structure and promote the recognizability of the product.

In conclusion, the present invention proposes a cup structure, which is characterized in having a fluid channel formed inside the cup structure and using two ends of the fluid channel as suction holes, whereby the user can suck or drink the material inside the cup structure conveniently, and whereby the cup structure can be disassembled for cleaning easily.

The embodiments has been described above to demonstrate the technical thoughts and characteristics of the present invention and enable the persons skilled in the art to understand, make, and use the present invention. However, these embodiments are only to exemplify the present invention but not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent modification or variation according to the spirit of the present invention is to be also included by the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cup structure, comprising: an inner cup, including an inner surface, an outer surface, and a first opening, wherein a first groove is formed on the outer surface and concaved from the outer surface to the inner surface; and an outer cup, used to receive the inner cup completely or partly, wherein the first groove of the inner cup and a portion of the outer cup form a fluid channel; the first groove extends from the first opening to a cup bottom of the inner cup; a first suction hole is formed at the first opening; a second suction hole is formed in the inner surface and at the cup bottom of the inner cup; and the first suction hole, the first groove, a portion of the outer cup and the second suction hole jointly form the fluid channel.
 2. The cup structure according to claim 1 further comprising a cover body, wherein the outer cup has a receiving space and a second opening; the outer cup completely receives the inner cup body; and the cover body covers the first opening and the second opening.
 3. The cup structure according to claim 2, wherein the inner cup includes a first inner cup body and a second inner cup body; the first inner cup body and the second inner cup body are joined together to form the inner cup body.
 4. The cup structure according to claim 3, wherein the first inner cup body has a first joint element; the second inner cup body has a second joint element; the first joint element and the second joint element are joined to each other or press-fitted to each other.
 5. The cup structure according to claim 2, wherein the outer cup is a film body.
 6. The cup structure according to claim 2, wherein the cover body is a film body.
 7. The cup structure according to claim 6, wherein a cutting line for an intake is formed on the film body and corresponding to the first suction hole.
 8. The cup structure according to claim 2, wherein a hardness of a material of the inner cup is higher than a hardness of a material of the outer cup.
 9. The cup structure according to claim 8, wherein the material of the inner cup is selected from a group including plastics, silicones, rubbers, resins, metals, ceramics, paper, wood, plant fibers, natural minerals, and composite materials.
 10. The cup structure according to claim 2, wherein a material of the outer cup is an elastic material.
 11. The cup structure according to claim 10, wherein the material of the outer cup is selected from a group including plastics, silicones, rubbers, resins, glass, metals, ceramics, paper, wood, plant fibers, natural minerals, and composite materials.
 12. The cup structure according to claim 1, wherein the inner cup is a main cup body; the outer cup is a cup seat body; the main cup body has the cup bottom and a cup wall connected with the cup bottom; the cup wall is wrapped to form the first opening; the cup seat body has a cup seat and a seat wall connected with the cup seat; the cup seat forms a receiving space; the cup seat covers the first groove and receives a portion of the main cup body; the first groove is extended from the first opening to the cup bottom of the main cup body; a first suction hole is formed at the first opening; a second suction hole is formed on the inner surface and at the cup bottom of the main cup body; the first suction hole, the first groove, a portion of the cup seat body and the second suction hole jointly form the fluid channel.
 13. The cup structure according to claim 12 further comprising a cover body, which covers the first opening.
 14. The cup structure according to claim 13, wherein an intake is formed on the cover body and corresponding to the first suction hole.
 15. The cup structure according to claim 12, wherein a thickness of the cup bottom of the main cup body is smaller than a thickness of the cup wall of the main cup body.
 16. The cup structure according to claim 12, wherein the first suction hole is formed via rolling up a portion of the cup wall.
 17. The cup structure according to claim 12, wherein a second groove is protruded from an inner wall surface of the cup seat and corresponding to the first groove.
 18. The cup structure according to claim 12, wherein the receiving space of the cup seat body at least covers the cup bottom of the main cup body and a portion of the first groove.
 19. The cup structure according to claim 18, wherein the seat wall covers a portion of the cup wall.
 20. The cup structure according to claim 12 further comprising a protrudent handle member protruding from an outer wall surface of the cup seat body. 